Brussels, 13/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Further to the publication, on Wednesday 12 October, of the European Commission's recommendations on progress in countries that are hoping to enter the EU, Turkey's Foreign Ministry voiced criticism. In a press release, it underlines that, in terms of methodology, the report does not sufficiently show the major progress made by Turkey in various fields and contains too many details and too much generalisation. In the ministry's view, the assessment reinforces the impression that emphasis has been placed on expectations and failings rather than on progress. Such an approach, it said, is not appropriate for an objective and balanced assessment. Turkey also explains that the solution to the Cypriot issue and Turkey's membership to the EU are two very different processes. He acknowledges that the report shows progress on the part of Turkey in political and economic areas. Turkey, the ministry concluded, is very determined to join the EU by meeting all the necessary criteria. Its reform efforts and efforts to come into line with EU acquis will gather pace, the ministry underlined, concluding that Turkey will continue to carry out its obligations with regard to its strategic objective to join the EU. However, Turkey also calls on the EU to honour its own commitments.
Iceland and Albania have stated their satisfaction at the reports. The Icelandic ministry welcomed the progress report on Iceland which underlines the fact that Iceland continues to meet all the political and economic conditions for becoming a member of the EU, the Icelandic delegation to the EU told Agence Europe. Specifying that the country will keep the momentum up in accession talks, the ministry of foreign affairs would like more if not all the chapters to be open by mid-2012, especially those reputed as the most complex, such as agriculture and fisheries.
Albania, for its part, considers the Commission report gives an objective view of the country's situation, the Albanian delegation to the EU told Agence Europe. The country notes that the Commission has not recommended granting the country candidate status but points out that the European integration process remains a major goal for Albania. The delegation also underlined that the Commission report is a programme of work for the Albanian government and, in that context, the government has expressed its resolve to engage in dialogue with the opposition, in particular on electoral reform. (CG/transl.jl)